GB2167612A - Wind-powered turbine generator systems - Google Patents

Wind-powered turbine generator systems Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2167612A
GB2167612A GB08527117A GB8527117A GB2167612A GB 2167612 A GB2167612 A GB 2167612A GB 08527117 A GB08527117 A GB 08527117A GB 8527117 A GB8527117 A GB 8527117A GB 2167612 A GB2167612 A GB 2167612A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sliprings
nacelle
generator
wind
sets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08527117A
Other versions
GB2167612B (en
GB8527117D0 (en
Inventor
Trevor Anthony Bowland
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
English Electric Co Ltd
Original Assignee
English Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by English Electric Co Ltd filed Critical English Electric Co Ltd
Publication of GB8527117D0 publication Critical patent/GB8527117D0/en
Publication of GB2167612A publication Critical patent/GB2167612A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2167612B publication Critical patent/GB2167612B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
    • H01R39/64—Devices for uninterrupted current collection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D15/00—Transmission of mechanical power
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D15/00—Transmission of mechanical power
    • F03D15/10—Transmission of mechanical power using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/25—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
    • H01R39/02—Details for dynamo electric machines
    • H01R39/08—Slip-rings
    • H01R39/10—Slip-rings other than with external cylindrical contact surface, e.g. flat slip-rings
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator system having a nacelle-mounted generator is provided with a slipring assembly (5) which is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the nacelle (2) and has two interconnected sets of springs associated with two sets of brushgear connected respectively to the generator terminals (10) and output conductors (12) and mounted in the nacelle and support structure respectively. In use, the slipring assembly is arranged to be rotated continuously at a speed chosen to give optimum sliding velocity between the brushgear contacts and the sliprings, so that local wear is avoided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wind-powered turbine generator systems This invention relates to wind-powered turbine generator systems.
It is common in such a system to mount the turbine rotor with its axis horizontal or only slightly inclined thereto on a nacelle which is itself rotatable about a vertical axis on a support structure, so that the turbine blade assembly can be orientated in the optimum position depending upon the existing wind direction.
From a mechanical point of view, the preferred location for the generator in such an arrangement, hereinafter referred to for simplicity as a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator, is in the nacelle, but this has the drawback that some form of rotational freedom is needed for the connections to the generator. Although sliprings are usually used for rotational connections they are not entirely satisfactory when the rotational speed is very low or zero, as is the case with a nacelle yawing mechanism, as uneven wear of the slipring surfaces tends to occur.
For this reason the generator is often mounted in the support structure, but this has the disadvantage that a more complicated mechanical transmission system needs to be used.
An object of the present invention is to provide a slipring arrangement which avoids the problem outlined above and enables a nacelle mounted generator to be satisfactorily employed.
According therefore to the invention a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator system having a nacelle mounted generator comprises two sets of sliprings interconnected in pairs on a common assembly rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle, two co-operating sets of brushgear each associated with a respective one of the sets of sliprings, with one set of brushgear carried by the nacelle and connected electrically to the generator terminals, and the other mounted within the support structure and connected electrically to output conductors, and drive means for rotating the slipring assembly in use of the system.
It can readily be arranged in such an arrangement to rotate the slipring assembly at a speed chosen to give the optimum sliding velocity for the contacts between the brushes and the sliprings thereby reducing local wear of the sliprings and prolonging their useful life.
The drive means may be in the form of an electric motor, and the slipring assembly may be in the form of a disc having the two sets of sliprings disposed on opposite sides, or a cylinder with the two sets of sliprings spaced axially from each other.
The generator may be coupled in any known manner by means of a gearbox to a wind turbine.
Two different embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying schematic drawings.
In Figure 1 there is shown in diagrammatic form and not to scale part of a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator arrangement, comprising a tower 1 surmounted by a nacelle 2 which is rotatable with respect to the tower about a vertical axis.
The nacelle 2 carries a generator 3 coupled in known manner by means of a gearbox 3a to a wind-turbine 4. The tower 1 also has mounted within it, in accordance with the invention a slipring assembly comprising a disc 5, having two sets of annular sliprings 6, 7 located on opposite sides coaxial with the disc axis, with corresponding sliprings of the two sets interconnected as at 8.
The disc 5 is mounted with its axis vertical and coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle 2, the latter being arranged to be rotated, as appropriate, by a yawing mechanism of any convenient known kind (not shown) in order to orientate the turbine blade assembly into an optimum position with regard to the wind direction.
The upper set of sliprings 6 is associated with brushes 9 connected electrically to the generator output terminals 10, and the lower set of sliprings 7 is associated with brushes 11 connected electrically to outgoing circuit conductors 12.
The disc 5 is arranged to be rotated by an electric motor 13 mounted within the tower 1 at a speed chosen to give optimum sliding velocity between the brushes 9, 11 and the sliprings 6, 7, the most satisfactory speed for any particular application of the invention being readily ascertainable by trial.
Figure 2 illustrates part only of an alternative embodiment of the invention, on an enlarged scale with the same elements denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment the slipring assembly comprises a cylinder 14 mounted with its axis vertical and carrying the two interconnected sets of sliprings 6, 7 which are located at spaced position along it. As in the first embodiment, the sliprings 6 are associated with brushes 9 connected to the generator terminals and the sliprings 7 are associated with brushes 11 connected to the outgoing circuit conductors.
The slipring assembly cylinder is again mounted with its axis coincident with the nacelle axis and is arranged to be driven in use by an electric motor 13.
In either of the two embodiments the slipring assembly may be used for auxiliary power transfer by providing auxiliary slipring and brushgear.
1. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator system having a nacelle mounted generator comprising two sets of sliprings interconnected in pairs on a common assembly rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle, two co-operating sets of brushgear each associated with a respective one of the sets of sliprings, with one set of brushgear carried by the nacelle and connected electrically to the generator terminals, and the other mounted within the support structure and connected electrically to output conductors, and drive means for rotating the slipring assembly in use of the system.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wind-powered turbine generator systems This invention relates to wind-powered turbine generator systems. It is common in such a system to mount the turbine rotor with its axis horizontal or only slightly inclined thereto on a nacelle which is itself rotatable about a vertical axis on a support structure, so that the turbine blade assembly can be orientated in the optimum position depending upon the existing wind direction. From a mechanical point of view, the preferred location for the generator in such an arrangement, hereinafter referred to for simplicity as a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator, is in the nacelle, but this has the drawback that some form of rotational freedom is needed for the connections to the generator. Although sliprings are usually used for rotational connections they are not entirely satisfactory when the rotational speed is very low or zero, as is the case with a nacelle yawing mechanism, as uneven wear of the slipring surfaces tends to occur. For this reason the generator is often mounted in the support structure, but this has the disadvantage that a more complicated mechanical transmission system needs to be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a slipring arrangement which avoids the problem outlined above and enables a nacelle mounted generator to be satisfactorily employed. According therefore to the invention a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator system having a nacelle mounted generator comprises two sets of sliprings interconnected in pairs on a common assembly rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle, two co-operating sets of brushgear each associated with a respective one of the sets of sliprings, with one set of brushgear carried by the nacelle and connected electrically to the generator terminals, and the other mounted within the support structure and connected electrically to output conductors, and drive means for rotating the slipring assembly in use of the system. It can readily be arranged in such an arrangement to rotate the slipring assembly at a speed chosen to give the optimum sliding velocity for the contacts between the brushes and the sliprings thereby reducing local wear of the sliprings and prolonging their useful life. The drive means may be in the form of an electric motor, and the slipring assembly may be in the form of a disc having the two sets of sliprings disposed on opposite sides, or a cylinder with the two sets of sliprings spaced axially from each other. The generator may be coupled in any known manner by means of a gearbox to a wind turbine. Two different embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying schematic drawings. In Figure 1 there is shown in diagrammatic form and not to scale part of a horizontal axis wind-turbine generator arrangement, comprising a tower 1 surmounted by a nacelle 2 which is rotatable with respect to the tower about a vertical axis. The nacelle 2 carries a generator 3 coupled in known manner by means of a gearbox 3a to a wind-turbine 4. The tower 1 also has mounted within it, in accordance with the invention a slipring assembly comprising a disc 5, having two sets of annular sliprings 6, 7 located on opposite sides coaxial with the disc axis, with corresponding sliprings of the two sets interconnected as at 8. The disc 5 is mounted with its axis vertical and coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle 2, the latter being arranged to be rotated, as appropriate, by a yawing mechanism of any convenient known kind (not shown) in order to orientate the turbine blade assembly into an optimum position with regard to the wind direction. The upper set of sliprings 6 is associated with brushes 9 connected electrically to the generator output terminals 10, and the lower set of sliprings 7 is associated with brushes 11 connected electrically to outgoing circuit conductors 12. The disc 5 is arranged to be rotated by an electric motor 13 mounted within the tower 1 at a speed chosen to give optimum sliding velocity between the brushes 9, 11 and the sliprings 6, 7, the most satisfactory speed for any particular application of the invention being readily ascertainable by trial. Figure 2 illustrates part only of an alternative embodiment of the invention, on an enlarged scale with the same elements denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment the slipring assembly comprises a cylinder 14 mounted with its axis vertical and carrying the two interconnected sets of sliprings 6, 7 which are located at spaced position along it. As in the first embodiment, the sliprings 6 are associated with brushes 9 connected to the generator terminals and the sliprings 7 are associated with brushes 11 connected to the outgoing circuit conductors. The slipring assembly cylinder is again mounted with its axis coincident with the nacelle axis and is arranged to be driven in use by an electric motor 13. In either of the two embodiments the slipring assembly may be used for auxiliary power transfer by providing auxiliary slipring and brushgear. CLAIMS
1. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator system having a nacelle mounted generator comprising two sets of sliprings interconnected in pairs on a common assembly rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the nacelle, two co-operating sets of brushgear each associated with a respective one of the sets of sliprings, with one set of brushgear carried by the nacelle and connected electrically to the generator terminals, and the other mounted within the support structure and connected electrically to output conductors, and drive means for rotating the slipring assembly in use of the system.
2. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 1, wherein the drive means is arranged to rotate the slipring assembly at a speed chosen to give the optimum sliding velocity for the contacts between the brushes and the sliprings.
3. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 1, wherein the drive means is in the form of an electric motor.
4. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 1, wherein the slipring assembly is in the form of a disc having two sets of sliprings disposed on opposite sides.
5. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 1, wherein the slipring assembly is in the form of a cylinder having two sets of sliprings spaced axially from each other.
6. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 1, wherein the generator is coupled to the wind turbine by means of a gearbox.
7. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator according to Claim 6 wherein the drive means is in the form of an auxiliary drive from the gearbox.
(c) Claim 7 above has been re-numbered as claim
8.
7. A horizontal axis wind-turbine generator substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (b) New claim has been filed as follows:
GB08527117A 1984-11-21 1985-11-04 Wind-powered turbine generator systems Expired GB2167612B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848429429A GB8429429D0 (en) 1984-11-21 1984-11-21 Turbine generator systems

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8527117D0 GB8527117D0 (en) 1985-12-11
GB2167612A true GB2167612A (en) 1986-05-29
GB2167612B GB2167612B (en) 1988-07-20

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GB848429429A Pending GB8429429D0 (en) 1984-11-21 1984-11-21 Turbine generator systems
GB08527117A Expired GB2167612B (en) 1984-11-21 1985-11-04 Wind-powered turbine generator systems

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB848429429A Pending GB8429429D0 (en) 1984-11-21 1984-11-21 Turbine generator systems

Country Status (1)

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GB (2) GB8429429D0 (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0908983A2 (en) * 1997-10-10 1999-04-14 ABB Sistemi Industriali SpA Electrical power transmission system to a propulsion and steering module for naval ships
WO2009061209A1 (en) * 2007-11-08 2009-05-14 Chapdrive As Wind turbine with electrical swivel
WO2010081758A2 (en) 2009-01-13 2010-07-22 Vestas Wind Systems A/S A wind turbine
CN102192105A (en) * 2010-01-26 2011-09-21 歌美飒创新技术公司 Medium voltage electric rotary joint for a wind turbine generator
DE202010012270U1 (en) 2010-09-07 2011-12-22 rc-direct Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) exchangers
DE102010040366A1 (en) 2010-09-07 2012-03-08 rc-direct Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) Power transformer for a wind turbine
CN103047092A (en) * 2013-01-07 2013-04-17 上海双菱风能电力设备有限公司 Cable twisting prevention connecting device for high-power fan
CN103078265A (en) * 2011-10-25 2013-05-01 上海电气风能有限公司 Power cable basket structure for large-sized wind generating set
CN103147923A (en) * 2013-03-14 2013-06-12 江苏新誉重工科技有限公司 Strong wind resistance wind turbine generator system
EP2765660A1 (en) 2013-02-07 2014-08-13 ABB Technology AG Slip ring arrangement
WO2014138277A1 (en) * 2013-03-05 2014-09-12 Ogin, Inc. Fluid turbine with slip ring
CN107420274A (en) * 2017-08-10 2017-12-01 北京金风科创风电设备有限公司 Wind generating set
CN110603380A (en) * 2017-08-28 2019-12-20 艾罗丁咨询新加坡私人有限公司 Electrical coupling for connecting a wind turbine to a power grid
US11437896B2 (en) * 2018-12-14 2022-09-06 Saint-Augustin Canada Electric Inc. Slip ring assembly

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103726995B (en) * 2014-01-08 2016-08-17 广东明阳风电产业集团有限公司 A kind of spline torque arm for wind driven generator rotation slip ring

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0908983A2 (en) * 1997-10-10 1999-04-14 ABB Sistemi Industriali SpA Electrical power transmission system to a propulsion and steering module for naval ships
EP0908983A3 (en) * 1997-10-10 2000-05-17 ABB Sistemi Industriali SpA Electrical power transmission system to a propulsion and steering module for naval ships
WO2009061209A1 (en) * 2007-11-08 2009-05-14 Chapdrive As Wind turbine with electrical swivel
US20110254283A1 (en) * 2009-01-13 2011-10-20 Vestas Wind Systems A/S wind turbine
WO2010081758A3 (en) * 2009-01-13 2010-12-23 Vestas Wind Systems A/S A wind turbine
US8593010B2 (en) 2009-01-13 2013-11-26 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Wind turbine
CN102272447A (en) * 2009-01-13 2011-12-07 维斯塔斯风力系统集团公司 A wind turbine
WO2010081758A2 (en) 2009-01-13 2010-07-22 Vestas Wind Systems A/S A wind turbine
CN102272447B (en) * 2009-01-13 2014-03-05 维斯塔斯风力系统集团公司 Wind turbine
CN102192105A (en) * 2010-01-26 2011-09-21 歌美飒创新技术公司 Medium voltage electric rotary joint for a wind turbine generator
ES2394576A1 (en) * 2010-01-26 2013-02-01 Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L. Medium voltage electric rotary joint for a wind turbine generator
DE202010012270U1 (en) 2010-09-07 2011-12-22 rc-direct Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) exchangers
DE102010040366A1 (en) 2010-09-07 2012-03-08 rc-direct Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) Power transformer for a wind turbine
WO2012032483A2 (en) 2010-09-07 2012-03-15 Rc-Direct Ug Electromechanical coupler for a wind turbine
CN103078265A (en) * 2011-10-25 2013-05-01 上海电气风能有限公司 Power cable basket structure for large-sized wind generating set
CN103047092A (en) * 2013-01-07 2013-04-17 上海双菱风能电力设备有限公司 Cable twisting prevention connecting device for high-power fan
EP2765660A1 (en) 2013-02-07 2014-08-13 ABB Technology AG Slip ring arrangement
WO2014122164A1 (en) 2013-02-07 2014-08-14 Abb Technology Ag Slip ring arrangement
WO2014138277A1 (en) * 2013-03-05 2014-09-12 Ogin, Inc. Fluid turbine with slip ring
CN103147923A (en) * 2013-03-14 2013-06-12 江苏新誉重工科技有限公司 Strong wind resistance wind turbine generator system
CN107420274A (en) * 2017-08-10 2017-12-01 北京金风科创风电设备有限公司 Wind generating set
CN110603380A (en) * 2017-08-28 2019-12-20 艾罗丁咨询新加坡私人有限公司 Electrical coupling for connecting a wind turbine to a power grid
CN110603380B (en) * 2017-08-28 2022-03-29 艾罗丁咨询新加坡私人有限公司 Electrical coupling for connecting a wind turbine to a power grid
US11437770B2 (en) 2017-08-28 2022-09-06 Aerodyn Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd Electrical coupling for connecting a wind turbine to an electricity network
US11437896B2 (en) * 2018-12-14 2022-09-06 Saint-Augustin Canada Electric Inc. Slip ring assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2167612B (en) 1988-07-20
GB8429429D0 (en) 1985-01-03
GB8527117D0 (en) 1985-12-11

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